Bow-facing oar



G. F. WEBB BOW FACING OAR May 20, 1930.

Filed Oct. 18, 1929 A TTORNEY as in the case of ordinary oars.

. provide a mechanism of the class specified view of the same taken onthe line 5 '5 in Patented May 1930. i i r i i r v UN TED. STATESFPATENTlorries GEORGE F. WEBB, 0F HAMILTOIL:ONTARIQCANADLA. V

BOW-FACING can Application filed October 18,1929, Serial No. 400,533,and in Canada December 13,1928.

' This invention relates to improvements in durable, efficient andinexpensive to manubow facing oars or rowing mechanism so arfacture. v pranged that the oarsman in rowing may be These, together with otherobjects, may be seated facing the bow'of the craft, and conattained bythe construction, combination and 5 sists of a sleeve-like memberadapted toflbe arrangement of the parts as will be herein-,

detachably affixed to the gunwale of the craft, after' nore fullydescribed, illustrated in the I a'tubular member adapted for a limitedrecipaccompanying drawing, and ascertained in rocal rotary movementwithin the first memthe claimshereunto annexed. her, but extendingbeyond the ends of that. Referring to the drawing: c

10 member, and an oar fulcrumed at, one end F igurel is a topv view of abow facing row- 9 of the tubular member, and a lever fulcrumed ingdevice constructed in accordance with at the opposite end of thatmember, and a this invention; c link pivotally connecting the inboardend of Figure 2 is an enlarged, sectional outboard the car with theoutboard end of the lever. p or side elevation taken on the line 22 inFig- 15 One of the principalobjects of the 'invenure 1, with, however,the parts in the remote tion is, to provide a rowing mechanism arebackground omitted to obviate confusion; ranged in such manner that theoarsman may Figure 3 is a greatly'enlarged, detailed top face thedirection in which the craft is proview of the sleeve-like member andthe tubuceeding instead of' necessarily facing astern lar member showingparticularly the favoured method of detachably fulcruming the Anotherimportant object is to provide bow: oarand lever to the latter member;facing oars which may be adaptable to the Figure is'a still more greatlyenlarged end usual oar-lock pin socket as are standard on or aft view ofFigure 8; V 7, most oar-propelled craft, and another is to Figure 5 isan enlarged, sectional end or aft which can be readily and compactlyfolded to Figure 2; p 7 p be placed lengthwise within the craft whenFigure 6 is an enlarged, detailed, top view not in use as it iscustomary to do with'ordiof the aft end of the'tubular member with naryoars, and which can be quickly removed the lever removed;

30 from the gunwale and taken inboard inemer- Figure 7 is a detailed endor aft view of gency such as when obstructions are met w th Flgure 6; pI or While innarrow waterways, Flgure 8 1s an enlarged, detailed elevaAnother important object is'to providesuch tion of the lever as viewedfrom aft; and, a mechanism the parts of which can be easily Figure? is agreatly enlarged, detailed'perdisassembled and when disassembled willlie P C W f the link and lever (or link flat together'for stowing, andstill another is and Q connect'lon 1n Process of b ln is" 1 to providein the construction for the elimination of any parts likely by theircomparative fl reference filleracters refer to minuteness to be mislaidduring the stowing z i gg mg t t roughout e several ortakin down of thedevice, such as pins, c. bolts andbthe like and especially there is pThe sleeve-like member 1s indicated on the vided a novel pivotalconnection between the gfi g g z g g ifi g ggghgfig gg gh link and theoar and lever which-by certain pin The pin 11 corresponds in use to the.45 manipulationlater to be described permits usual oardock pin providedwith Ordinary of y ep n 9 those p t E f stern facing oars and is adaptedto fit the ing no danger of accidental separatlonof the usual -.1 pi k t12 i th gunwale device when in use. G, and with which most oar-propelledcraft Still another object is ,tolprovide a device are customarilyprovided, but that pin does of the class specified which Will-be simple,not rotate with the motion eff rowing as 7 does the usual oar-lock pin;The ends of the "10 I material thus cutto a member are formed intoupper" 'and'lower,

sleeve-like member 10 are provided with flanges 13 which extend belowthatmember and embrace the 'gunwale 12,thus to keep that member in arelatively fixed position parallel to the gunwale, and these flanges arepreferably formed by cutting the belly of 7 that member first lengthwisefrom its ends to the width of the flanges to be formed, then upwardly,and finally straightening out the relatively vertical po sition. v V r rAdapted for a limited'reciprocal rotary movementwithin the member 10 isthe tubulzni'member}lt the ends of which, however, project considerablybeyond the ends of the sleevemember and 'those ends of the tubular thatmember and engaging man annular seg- & mental slot 17 1nthe tubularmember 14.,

the strokes of that oar. p (I engagement of the pin 16 in thef sl'ot 17prevents improper lengthwise movement of the is a fixed pin 16-extendinginto the core of This slot is :of the proper-length to limitthe rotary movement of the tubular member 14 tothe rquired rise andfall-of an oar between Furthermore the tubular member;

.' ward ears' '1'5 and the lever 19 is'like w'ise fnlcrumed between theaft ears 15., While the upper ofthese ears, for simplicity in man-.uf'actur'e, may remain arcuate in cross-section in conformation to thetubular material from which they. are formed, the lower ofi'them arepreferably filled to form even galleries 20j and it is upon'these'galleriesthatthe oar 1 8 and the lever 19 a re supported when in use.

This oariand lever carry pivot pins 21 provided with heads; 22."Portions of these pins extend beneaththe oarand'the lever and 1 upperportions of the pins are embraced in enter sockets 23in the lower ears,while the diagonal notchslots 24 in the upper ears.

- In, setting up'the mechanism it will be observed that'if theoar andvlever are first placed" in an elevated position between: the

ears whilst the upper portions of those'pins are trayersingthediagonal'notch slots24,

until the foar, or lever as the casemay be, :arrlves'home, when thelower port onsof those pins may drop into their sockets '23 1 and theoar,, "or lever, asthe'case may be,

comes torest on its respective gallery. :For locking the oar and leverin their fulcrumed osition between the ears there. are provided notchedlatches or keepers 25 on theupper ears. ",Theselat'ches arepivoted asat26, and

are adapted to be swung in or'out ofengage- Theoar 18 'sff'ulcru'med'between the forment with the pivotsQI. Obviouslythe oar and lever may bedisconnected from the tubular member by a reversalof the foregoingprocedure.

Pivotally connecting the inboard end of. the oar 18and the outboard endof the lever 19 is the link 28; Although thislink and its pivotalconnections-canbe, of any suit'able form and produce the same ultimateresult, it is found preferable to; provide that link in the form of a'rod provided with an eye .29 atone end and a hook 30 at the oppositeend. The eye 29 is-linked with a hook 31 on the outboard end" of" thelever 19* and the book 30 is linked with. an eye 32 on the ing0 boardend of the oar 18. The relative posi,

tion of these, hooks andey'es' is obviously immaterial, theforegoing-relationship being'j,I

ing, however, that that relationship is a pref erable one, theend of thebill 33 of theloopj forming the eye 29wis proportionatelyn'ar- 1illustratedby way of an example. Assumrowed to a diameter approximatelythe in tervening space or gap between the end of the bill '34 and thehook-back 35 of the hook; 3 1,Jsee Figure 9; Thus by manipulating the'11n'k28 to a position where: the hook bill 34 meets the narrowed end ofthe .bill 33" on the eye, the hook and eye may be readily disengagedprovided, of course, that the lever.

haspreviously been disconnected from the H ears 15 so as to free thatlever for such ma nipul'ationl The linked connectifon between the' link28' and theoa'r'1'8 are similarly s'eparable. Although ithas'beenshownthat the aforesaid connections are readily separable,

obviously oncethe mechanism is locked in operative position itbecomes-impossible for those parts to become accidentally separated. 7

Those portions of the oar and lever which have been hithertodescribedare preferably-1 of a metallic construction.

The oar blade V 36 and the major portion of its stem 37howstructipn andthis stem may be united to the metalllc' portion by any suitable means.

ever arepreferably of the'usualwooden con-' Similarly a hand grip 38 offwood or other suitable material united to the inboard end of thelever.1

The metallic portions of oarand lever are oflset as at 39and'tO,respectivelyso that the ends of those members may beup on acommon plane w th the-link 28, which latter rides back and forthatop thesleeve-like member durlng the course. of the rowing strokes,

. The hook 31is preferably attachedto the v leverby enclosing the shank41 of that hook ina loop 42 formed by rolling-"the endof .7 I

theleverin that form, then providinga per manentzunion' by any suitablemeans as by f welding for example; Similarly the, eye 32 is permanentlysecured to the oar; ,To: pro: vide for adjustn'ientthereare apluralityof a holes 43 in the oar and in the lever ,'the pins 21 beinginterchangeable from one to? other of these holes.

In operation, considering the propelling stroke, the oarsmandrawstowardhim the inboard end of the lever in the same manner r as he Wouldanordinary oar, the power being transmitted in a reverse manner to the oarby means ofthelink 28, thus directing the stroke of the oar in thesamedirection as taken by the inboard end of the lever.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

ber adapted to besecured to a vunwale or other rigid part of a rowingcraft, an oar fulcrumed to said member at one point, a lever fulcrumedto said member at another point remote from the firstpoint, a link,

' with the outboard end ofthe'lever."

one member of a hookand eye combination on the inboard end of the oar, acomplemental member of the hook and eye combination on the inboard endof the link, the width'of the gap between the bill and Vback'of the hookbeing less than the diameter of the main portion of the eye butperceptibly greater than the diameter of a reduced minor portionvthereof sothat the hook and eye may be separable when the oarandlinkare in a certain inoperative relative position but inseparable when theoar and link are in ope erative position, said link having a hook andeye connection at its outboard .end with the outboard end of the lever.

2. In bow-facing oars a mounting member adapted to be secured to agunwale or other rigid part of a rowing craft, an oar fulcrumed to saidmember at one .point, a lever fulcrumedto said member at another pointremote from the first point, alink, one meme ber of a hook and eyecombinationon the inboard end of the'oar,a complementalmein ber of thehook and eye combination on the inboard end of the link, the Width ofthe gap between the bill and back of the hook being less than thediameter of the main portion. of the eye but perceptibly greater thanthe diameter of the reduced minor portion thereof so that the hookan'dieyema-y be separable when the oar and linkarein acertaininoperative relative position but in separable when'the oarlandlink are in operative positionpsaid link having a similar hook and eyeconnection at its outboard properly come Inf-bow facing oars, asleevelike m: ber adapted to be'secured toia gunwaleo'r otheririgi'dpart of a rowingicraftand parallelwitlr the gunwale, a tubular memberhaving bearing within the sleeve-like mem- -ber, a-pair of ears formedon each end of the tubular member, and an oar tulcrumed between and tothe forwardpair of ears, a

leVer-t'ulcrum'ed between and to the aft pair of'ear's, and a linkpivot'allyconnecting the inboard endof'tlie oar with the outboard endoftheleve'r. I p l l. In'bow facingo-ars, a sleeve-like member adaptedto be'secured to a gunwale or other rigid parto of a rowing craftandparallel with the gunwale,"a.'tubular' member liavingbearing withinthe sleeve-like mem the tubular member, an oar, a pivot pincarried-bythe oar and extending bothbeneath and Jabovethe same, theupperportion -ber, a pair of ears-formed on each'end of of said pin beingadapted to enter a diagonal notch slot in the upper of thevforward pairof ears, and the lower portion of said pin being adapted to enter asocket in the lower of those ears, a'latch or keeper 011 the upper ofthe-forward pair of ears adapted to swing about said pin to restrainthesame from retreating out of said slot, a lever connected to the aft pairof earsflin the same;

specified manner as the oar is connected to the forward pair of cars,and a link pivotally connecting the inboard end of the car with theoutboard end of the lever.

5. In bow facing oars, a sleeve-like ineinber adapted to be secured toagunwale or other rigid part of a'rowing craft and parallel with thegunwale, "a tubular member hav ng bearing within the sleeve-like member,a pair of ears formed on each end of the tubular member, an oar, a pivotpin carried by tlie'oar and extending both beneath and above the same,the upper portion of said pin being adapted to enter a diagonal notchslot in the upper of the forward pair of ears; and the lower portion ofsaid pin being 7 adapted to enter a socket in the lower of these a 7'ears, a latch or keeper on'the upper ofthe forward pair of ears adaptedto swing about said pin to restrain the same from retreating "out ofsaid slot,'a lever ,tulcrumed between and to the aft pair of ears, and alink pivotally connecting the inboard end of the oar with the outboardend of the lever.

6. In bow facingvoars, a sleeve-like mem ber adapted to be secured to agunwale or other rigid part of a rowing craft and parallel with thegunwale, a tubular member having limited rotary reciprocal movementwithin said sleeve-like member and, extending both forward and aft ofthesame, and

an oar fulcrumed to the forward end of said tubular member, a leverfulcrumed to the aft end of said tubular member, a link pivotallyconnecting the inboard end of the for limiting :the' reciprocal rotarymovement Q a V l venting lengthwise movement of said tubular member. Y oi' ,Y

7'. :In bow facing oars a sleeveelike mem-' beradap'ted'tob'e securedto. a gunwaleor other rigid vpart of a rowing craft and parv; allel With"the 'g unwale a' tubular member having limited rotary reciprocal.movement within said sleeve-'like'member,andextending v a 7 both forwardandaft of the same, and" an i 1 oar rf'u-lc'riimedgto the forward end ofsaid Y tubular member,ia lever fulcrumed to the '1 1 5 aftgend of saidtubularmember, a link PiVf- Qtally connecting'the inboard end of theoar' with; the Outboard end of the 1ever,,a-n annu- V lar' segmentalslot-in saidtubular member, apin on'the inner-wall of the'sleeve-likememberandextending into said slot whereby the 1 reciprocalrotary movementof the tubular v memberis limited to the'ebounds of that:slot Qand whereby lengthwisemovement of said 7 jtnbular member isprevented. e v V "25 In testimony whereoflhe has atfi'xed his signature.a

"GEOR E FQWEBB.

oar with the outboard end of the lever; means 3'51" 7 of said: tubularmembe'ryandmeansfor pre-

